Even birds can get overheated in this hot Texas weather. Here’s how to help them stay cool
The Texas summer heat can not only be brutal for humans, but also for the birds flying above.
Unlike household pets such as dogs and cats, birds don’t always have people looking out for them. As temperatures continue to climb this month, there’s still plenty of hot days ahead for avians.
Here’s how to to help birds stay cool this summer and what to look out for:
How do birds keep cool in the Texas heat?
Birds are warmblooded creatures like humans meaning that they need to maintain body temperature to survive the hot and cold.
One of the ways birds maintain their cool is panting, just like dogs do, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. When a bird pants, it is not exactly like that of a dog — think less tongue wagging and fast breathing.
A bird’s form of panting is called fluttering, which is a combination of rapid open-mouth breathing and quick vibrations of the moist throat membranes that causes evaporation. As excess heat leaves the bird’s body, they cool down.
Another cooling method for birds is to simply take a dip in water. Submerging exposed skin in water helps birds to dissipate their body heat, just like a human would do in a pool, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What are signs of an overheated bird?
While birds have a few ways to keep cool, they can still overheat which could lead to death. Here’s a few signs of over-heating to lookout for, according to Beauty of Birds:
- Open-mouthed breathing panting.
- Holding their wings away their body as a way to cool down.
- Behaving like they’re stressed.
There’s a few things any person can do to help and over-heated bird:
- Mist or spray the bird’s feathers with cool water.
- Put the bird’s feet and legs in cool water.
- Wrap loosely in a towel and place bird in a cool area.
- Call a bird veterinarian if need be.
How can you help birds beat the Texas heat?
Besides treating an over-heated bird, there are a few things people can do to help avians during the summer heat.
An easy thing people can do is set out a birdbath outside their house and keep it full of water, according to the National Audubon Society. Birds either drink or bathe in the water to cool themselves off, but make sure to clean it regularly to avoid spreading disease.
Providing shade to birds like trees or other plant life is another way to help. Birds not only nest in trees, but hang out in the shade to keep cool.
Finally, keeping birds fed is a way to help. Heat waves can affect birds ability to forage for food, and placing bird feeders and growing native plants that produce fruit or seeds offer them an easy place to feed.
